Steve Reinprecht was a dominant force for the University of Wisconsin from 1996 to 2000. In his final season, he led the nation in scoring with 66 points (26 goals and 40 assists) in 37 games, a performance that earned him the WCHA Player of the Year award and a selection as a First-Team All-American. Reinprecht was also a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2000, finishing as the runner-up. He was the only player to lead the Badgers in scoring for three consecutive seasons.

After his collegiate career, Reinprecht had a lengthy professional career that included 11 seasons in the NHL. Undrafted, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings and was later traded to the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2001. Over his NHL career, he played in 663 games for five different teams, totaling 382 points. He also played in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL), where he led the league in scoring in the 2014-15 season. Reinprecht retired from professional hockey in 2018.